In May and June, Connecticut Community Foundation awarded $1.4 million in grants to dozens of nonprofit organizations serving residents of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. The funds will bring vital programs and services to people in need.

Julie Loughran, president and CEO, stated, “While Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills is a wonderful place to live, work and play, we know that some of our residents are suffering.  We are pleased to provide grants to the nonprofit organizations on the ground who are extending critical lifelines when people need it most. And we are filled with gratitude for the compassion of local donors who make these grants possible.” Among other grants, the May-June awards included:

  • Grants totaling $80,506 to nine nonprofits aiming to improve community health.  Funds will support increased access to health care and nutritious food, prevention and control of chronic disease, efforts to reduce health system inequities, and substance abuse prevention.
  • $16,500 to three organizations working to meet the basic needs of local residents. Grants will help reinforce the structure of an emergency food pantry, repair a bus that provides medical transportation for people who are older or disabled in Naugatuck, and provide weekend meals for hungry young people.
  • $106,526 to improve the health of Naugatuck residents through grants for a mobile food pantry, to teach schoolchildren about healthy foods, to provide equine-assisted therapies, to support substance abuse prevention and intervention, and to fund medical transportation.
  • A total of  $90,000 in grant funding for 15 nonprofits working to bring interactive arts experiences to people in neighborhoods and communities across Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills—often in underserved populations that may otherwise be excluded—through the collaborative work of arts and community service organizations.
  •  $23,101 in grants to benefit residents of Southbury. Projects funded include a mobile food pantry, outreach to people without regular healthcare, and medical treatment for pets.
  • $30,000 to improve and upgrade the technology systems of seven local nonprofits.
  • $344,825 in grants to improve the quality of life of older people.
  • $10,050 in community organizing “grassroots grants” to individuals and groups in Waterbury who lead equitable efforts to revitalize communities, influence local systems and foster youth leadership.
  • $70,382 grants to support women and girls through organizations that provide services for survivors of domestic violence, shelter and services for women who are homeless, programs to increase self-esteem and build leadership skills, and mental health treatments for trauma victims.

Grants are made possible by the extraordinary generosity of donors who have established more than 500 charitable funds at the foundation to benefit residents of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. One of dozens of organizations awarded grants, Love146 received a $10,000 grant through the Lois Livingston McMillen Memorial Fund to provide children and youth residing in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills with information, safety planning and referral services related to human trafficking. Erin Williamson, U.S. Programs Director of Love 146, said, “This kind of community funding is critically important for us to be able to support youth in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills who have been affected by human trafficking.  Many aspects of our programs, such as providing incentives for achieving goals and celebrating achievements like graduating high school, cannot be paid for through state and federal funding. Yet, they are critical to our ability to engage youth and to increase their ability to recover and to reduce their risk of future victimization. Thanks to Connecticut Community Foundation, youth will have the information and support they need.” View all the grants awarded by the Foundation in the May-June grant round.